It is wet here and I have not had a chance to use my sunscreen in 7 days…..
Cool, windy and wet – am I in San Jose???

Dan Santorum and I walked in the mist, wind and chill down Russell Street to Findley St and off to Rod Laver Arena.  Thank goodness for my level A credential – there are 15,000 people attempting to get onto the grounds.  We get to walk past them and head down into the players tunnel.  The players are all walking around or warming up on the treadmill or bikes waiting to see if they will start on schedule with the rain.

Tried to get into the Stadium to watch first match of the day with Maria “S” and Russian Maria Kirienko, but huge back up to get thru the doors.  I took a walk about in the exhibitors area outside.  Stopped at the Wilson booth and talked to my Wilson Sales Reps from Australia and traded stories.  They wanted to know about San Jose SRC and what my members do daily, what they play with and how it differs from Tennis Australia. Very interested in what our juniors do and the number of hours they put in on practice weekly.  I took some pictures with me and the Wilson team to send back to Wilson in the states to show the office they were working hard.

Next it visited Global Caps which is a booth that features caps from every country in the nation with their country’s flag.  Found out the owner is from Atlanta and his partners are Matts Weilander and Michael Pernsfor.  I had lived in Atlanta so we knew all the same people, places and clubs.  His sons were both with him and his youngest in #1 in the South in the 12 even though he is only 10 and older brother, Peter. is up and coming and extremely fast on the court.  At the end he gave me 2 Aussie hats ($30 each) and we change numbers to stay in touch and I will send him 2 of my DVD’s – Monsters in the Mind and Best of Ken DeHart when I get home.

Got into the arena and saw the last of Sharapova’s loss to Kirienko from Russia – great seats courtesy of my speakers badge. Next I see Andy Murray dominate 6′ 9″ Anderson.  Amazing defensive skills with underspin, drops – then a crushing change of pace serve or forehand.

Next up is Kim Clisters who dominates with such good footwork and perves over a young Canadian, Valerie Tetreault. Kim is a favorite here because of her tenacious fighting spirit and her relationship with Leyton Hewitt in the past.

Off to the sports bookstore where I buy some odd Aussie tennis books to add to my 2,000 book collection – quite expensive books and the dollar US and Aussie are very even.

Tonight we go to the Presidents Party in a special area of the Rod Laver for the key tennis people in Australia – steak, potatoes, salad and wine (orange juice for me).  We leave the meeting area, which overlooks all the outdoor courts – and rain. We leave the area and they give us ice cream and we head down to the presidents box.  5 rows up behind Nadal – great seats and a great match as local Aussie Peter Luczak outplayed Rafa for the first set.  Incredible spin on the ball and so fast movement on the court.  In the tie-breaker, Nadal asserts his experience and takes control of the match with a new level of play.  You can’t imagine how it feels to be part of the energy setting that close. Jelena Dokic plays next but is totally unenthusiastic so we go back up to the presidents lounge to network with the coaches and Tennis Australia officials.

Catch a players car back to the hotel, pack for only 1  1/2 days left.  Get ready for lots of matches on Tues and will see many of the top players on outback courts.

See you soon, be home Wed  at 11 in SFO and on to the club by 1 pm.

Ken DeHart
SJSRC Director of Tennis
PTR & USPTA Master Professional

• Ladies Finals from Australia [/caption] I got up at 3:30 am here in Charleston, SC to see THE match from down under.  My roommate was asleep, they wouldn't let me access the TV in the bar - afraid I would drink them dry I guess.  Little did they know I don't drink.  I went......
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250 Aussie Coaches seated in Hisense Arena with the roof retracted and you get to present on the court that the top players in the world compete on…..  Great feeling. Looks like an invite back next year to speak again.  Sold all my DVD’s and had requests for more.

We listened to Bruce Elliott, top bio-mechanist in the world, speak for 3 hours on all aspects of how to serve, correct the serve and then watched him improve Melanie Oudin’s serve. She is the sweetheart from Atlanta who reached the Semi’s at the US Open.

Migel Crespo, ITF Research Officer, based in Spain talked about what to consider before you start feeding balls and how to make subtle adjustments when coaching – including learning not to talk too much.

Ray Ruffles, the famous Aussie Coach of Mark Woodbridge and Woodford, talked about the game today, where he sees it going and what he sees on the players today.

Off to the outback courts to see the players practice and some matches. 

Saw Venus hitting, spoke to the Bryan Bros, passed Andy Roddick in the hall in the players room and Djokovic walked by as well.  Dan Santorum and I were courtside to talk to Melanie Oudin and her coach, Brian DeVilliers one of our long time PTR friends.  Melanie is doing well and a very engaging young lady to talk to.

Special news as we were finishing the Coaches Conference from Craig Tiley.  Roger Federer had called him to say “We need to do something to help the people in Haiti.”

Sunday, in a never before done event on Rod Laver Arena,  Federer, Roddick, both the Williams sisters, Samantha Stosur will play exhibitions and the public will be invited to Rod Laver Arena to help raise money for the people in Haiti.  Kids will be free and adults will be charged $10.  The pros will match the monies raised by the spectators.

Watched Djokovic lose in an exhibition match to local 17 year old Aussie, Bernard Tomic in 3 sets and Verdasco defeat Tsonga at Kooyong which was the former site of the Australian Open. I was fortunate to visit the newly refurbished club last night for dinner and to admire the old time pictures of past winners and trophies.  The club started in 1879 -wow..
Did some sight seeing as well to the highest building in Melbourne and lots of local sites. Beautiful churches and very multi-cultural city – very friendly.

Later in the evening we had a speakers dinner at South Park, one of the largest malls in Aussie land. Thanks to Travis Atkinson, Manager of Coach Development and Tess.  Great time to talk business, what is new in tennis with 8 of the speakers at the conference.  Lots of topics including the newly proposed World Cup Tennis to replace Davis Cup.

Looking forward to seeing the exhibitions today and more of the city.  Will keep you posted.

It’s raining here today for first day matches – but with 2 main courts with roofs – no worries we will have tennis – unlike at the club with the rain you all are getting.

Guess I will go to the Stadium and hang with the players – tough life, but I got to do it.  Nice to have the special badge.

See you soon,

Ken DeHart

• Australian Open Update #2 This is my third day in Melbourne as a speaker and my first time to Australia.  It has been an awesome experience..... Today I walked about 6 blocks from my hotel on Russell St down to the tram (trolley) which I took over to Hysense Arena.  I am the......
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This is my third day in Melbourne as a speaker and my first time to Australia.  It has been an awesome experience…..

Today I walked about 6 blocks from my hotel on Russell St down to the tram (trolley) which I took over to Hysense Arena.  I am the 2nd presenter today on Hysense and they have the roof open today.  My presentation is on “20 Best Games for Strategy and Tactics” and I have 6 young players who will demonstrate the drills I will do.

There are 4 cameras on and about 250 coaches.  It is like a match and today I am on.  Good energy and I make quick friends with the kids so they respond well to all the drills we do.  My jokes are good as well today and I can tell I connect with the audience well.

The weather is cool this year so far and has been a bit cloudy.  Cool weather comes in form the south and hot weather from the winds out of the north.

Got voted the best presentation of the weekend to date.  Every DVD I brought with me sold out after my presentation and they were asking for more, so I told them to go to www.kendeharttennis.com to order.  Gave everyone who bought DVD’s a copy of my “Today” card with Kam and me on the top of it.

Got to be on the court to assist Dan Santorum with his presentation on Corrective Techniques and with a top physical trainer from Australia for the youth doing exercises to prevent injuries.  Later Dan and I went over to Rod Laver Arena and went to the players area.  We saw most of the players practicing.  Said ‘Hello” to the Bryan Brothers and Fabrice Santoro and got to see Donald Young from the US play his qualifying match. We talked to a long time friend of ours, Brian DeVilliers who is the coach for young American player Melanie Oudin from Atlanta, said “hello” to Donald Young’s dad and a couple of other international coaches.

We took the players van back to the hotel.  Dan got a ticket to a Crickett match at the big stadium next door and I chose to go with Frank from Holland and Mike Barrell from England to visit Kooyong Club.  It was built in 1879 and was the site of the Australian Open for several decades until they built the new stadium in Melbourne.  We had dinner there with a couple of friends who are members (10 yr wait list to join), 52 courts – 30 grass and about 20 clay, pictures of all the great Aussie players from the past and a few hundred silver trophies.  They are having a tournament going on now as a lead up to the Australian Open.  Songa and Verdasco will play in the finals tomorrow.  Federer will be there to play a practice match as well.

What history at this club.  They just spent $132 million renovating the facility.

Tomorrow is the last day of the Coaches Conference back the Hysense Arena from 9-4:30.  We will have a 4 hour course on all aspects of the serve from Bruce Elliott, one of the top bio-mechanist in the world, a presentation from famous Australian player and coach – Ray Ruffles and Miguel Crespo on Drills, think before you feed.

I have Sunday off except for a dinner for the speakers at the conference to do some sight seeing.  Monday I have Rod Laver Arena tickets to watch first round play.

Ken DeHart

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My first visit to Australia was awesome.

I enjoyed speaking to the 250 participants in Hisense Arena and being on the Australian Open court.  Everyone seemed to like my presentation on the “20 Best Games for Strategy and Tatics” and I sold all my 70 plus DVD’s I took with me. I now have 7 different DVD’s out there and 2 more on the way.  I also gave my “Today” handout to most everyone and access to my website for additional free information.

I walked all over Melbourne – the University, tennis bookstores looking for more books to add to my 2,000 book collection, the sidewalk cafes for lunch and dinner, taking the trolleys or Trams to Rod Laver Arena, seeing the old stadium at Kooyong with 40 grass and 20 clay courts.  I enjoyed time with Dan, Wayne, Mike and Frank as we talked and ate our way thru the week.  Other speakers Miguel and Bruce Elliott were delightful as well.

Most of all I enjoyed the staff at the conference that were delightful – Tess, Travis,  Ryan, Patrick, Belinda, Rob and more.  Very delightful and made the Conference special as well as making us feel at home.

It was incredible being in the players area and standing next to Roger Federer,  Del Potro, Justine,  Melaine Oudin, Li Na, Baghdatis and all the coaches that I got to talk to just being in that area – Kelly Jones and Brian DeVilliers.

It was great just to roam around the grounds and see all the players up close as they competed – Sonderlin, Blake, Federer, Hewitt, Serena, Roddick and all the fans walking about.  First it was in the cold and rain the last two days in the sunshine of Australia.

All the best,

Ken

• Ladies Finals from Australia [/caption] I got up at 3:30 am here in Charleston, SC to see THE match from down under.  My roommate was asleep, they wouldn't let me access the TV in the bar - afraid I would drink them dry I guess.  Little did they know I don't drink.  I went......
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